ISLAMABAD: A Thai-flagged bulk carrier was attacked while passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, while two other cargo ships were also struck by unidentified projectiles amid increasing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.
"The Thai-flagged bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree'... was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz," after departing from a port in the United Arab Emirates, the navy said in a statement.
While 20 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy, efforts were underway to rescue the remaining three crew members, the navy said, adding that the cause of the attack was under investigation.
In a separate strike, an unknown projectile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz abutting Iran, causing a fire and forcing the crew to evacuate, a maritime security agency said on Wednesday.
"It has been reported that a cargo vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Straits of Hormuz, which has resulted in a fire onboard," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
In another strike, a second container ship was hit off the coast of the UAE by an unidentified projectile on Wednesday, a British maritime security agency said.
"The master of a bulk carrier has reported their vessel being hit by an unknown projectile. There is no report of any environmental impact. The crew is reported safe and well," said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
Last week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US‑Israeli airstrikes, plunging the Middle East into a major conflict.
In response, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli positions across the region.
The conflict has heightened regional instability, disrupted global trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, and threatens broader economic and security consequences worldwide.
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